Advisory Board says upgrades to dilapidated building and antiquated technology are overdue
Pierce County needs an upgrade to its equipment and a new building for its 911 dispatching.
The urgent needs were the main topic of an unannounced 911 advisory committee meeting last Thursday morning.
Public safety director Blake James told those present the county’s current 911 dispatch center on Pierce Industrial Boulevard is unsecured and the building is dilapidated.
He also reported the county’s 911 dispatching system is antiquated and is in serious need of upgrade.
The server for the county’s computer- aided dispatch (CAD) system is now nine years old and the standard time of use for most CAD systems is five years. The 911 center has no back up server.
The CAD system is utilized by dispatchers, call- takers and 911 operators to prioritize and record incident calls, identify the status and location of responders in the field and effectively dispatch responder personnel.
Sheriff Ramsey Bennett agreed.
“When we moved the 911 center to its current location, it was meant to be a temporary fix at that time,” he said. “That’s been over 30 years ago.”
James said the 911 dispatching could be moved to the EMA/EMS operations center on Carter Avenue, but upgrades would be needed to the building to accomodate the 911 center.
James recommended the advisory committee come up with a permanent solution instead of another temporary fix.
The sheriff also agreed whole-heartedly with that approach.
“We’ve been using a bandaid to cover up a bleeding artery,” Bennett said.
The discussion then turned to costs. There were no concrete costs for the building or equipment upgrades. County Chairman Neal Bennett and County Manager Raphel Maddox said a cost estimate and funding source would need to be identified.
Maddox suggested the county could build a new facility at the current location or build a new facility at the Grady Street property.
James will investigate the details for a new building and new software and equipment and report back to the committee.
In other business, advisory committee:
• tabled the 911 center’s standard operating procedure policy. James and 911 director Debra Williamson will review the procedures and present a draft to the committee at the next meeting.
• discussed having a called meeting, but the committee adjourned without setting a time or date.
Members of the advisory committee in addition to James, Bennett and Maddox, include, County Fire Chief and EMA director Santo Niño, Blackshear Police Chief Chris Wright, Blackshear Fire Chief Bucky Goble and Patterson Police Chief Nick Strickland.
Patterson Fire Chief Stevie Sweat was not present for the meeting.
The Times learned of the meeting through a tip less about 12 hours before it was scheduled to begin. State law requires the legal organ be notified and an agenda provided 24 hours in advance.
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